Recommendations & Requests

A man goes to terrifying extremes to adopt his celebrity doppelganger's life in this darkly comedic psychological suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Dark Matter and Upgrade.

The basis for the upcoming A24 film Famous, starring Zac Efron.

“My name is Lancelot Blue Dunkquist, and the best thing about me is, when you doll me up right, I look just like the movie star James Jansen.”

Meet Lance. Thirty-eight years old. Works a meaningless job. Still lives above his parents’ garage. By all accounts, a world-class loser. Save for one glaring exception: He has a million-dollar face.

Lance has been mistaken eighty-seven times for the Oscar-winning movie star James Jansen, and for the last ten years, he’s saved his money and studied Jansen’s films, his moves, his idiosyncrasies—even the way he speaks. Now, after an unceremonious termination from his job, Lance has decided that the time has come to go after his dream of truly becoming Jansen.

From New York’s avant-garde, off-off Broadway scene to the glitter of Los Angeles, Lance embarks on a journey toward becoming James Jansen that will take him closer to the star than even he had dreamed—and to darker lengths than he could’ve possibly imagined.

Shot through with dark humor and building to a truly shocking conclusion, Famous is a scary, surprising, genre-blending thrill ride as only Blake Crouch can deliver.
 

A new holiday story set in the Scottish Highlands to warm booklovers' hearts by Jenny Colgan, New York Times bestselling author of Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop.

Mirren Sutherland stumbled into a career as an antiquarian book hunter after finding a priceless antique book in her great aunt's attic. Now, as Christmas approaches, she's been hired by Jamie McKinnon, the surprisingly young and handsome laird of a Highland clan whose ancestral holdings include a vast crumbling castle. Family lore suggests that the McKinnon family's collection includes a rare book so valuable that it could save the entire estate--if they only knew where it was. Jamie needs Mirren to help him track down this treasure, which he believes is hidden in his own home.

But on the train to the Highlands, Mirren runs into rival book hunter Theo Palliser, and instantly knows that it's not a chance meeting. She's all too familiar with Theo's good looks and smooth talk, and his uncanny ability to appear whenever there's a treasure that needs locating.

Almost as soon as Mirren and Theo arrive at the castle, a deep snow blankets the Highlands, cutting off the outside world. Stuck inside, the three of them plot their search as the wind whistles outside. Mirren knows that Jamie's grandfather, the castle's most recent laird, had been a book collector, a hoarder, and a great lover of treasure hunts. Now they must unpuzzle his clues, discovering the secrets of the house--forming and breaking alliances in a race against time.

A treat for booklovers and treasure hunters alike, The Secret Christmas Library serves up a delicious mystery with a hint of romance, and plenty of holiday spirit!

"Manhattan is filled with galleries and deep-pocketed collectors who can make an artist's career with a wave of a hand. But one man toils in obscurity, his brilliance unrecognized while lesser talents bask in the glory he believes should be his. Come tomorrow, he vows, the city will be buzzing about his work. Indeed, before dawn, Lt. Eve Dallas is speeding toward the home of the two gallery owners whose doorway has been turned into a horrifying crime scene overnight. A lifeless young woman has been elaborately costumed and precisely posed to resemble the model of a long-ago Dutch master, and Dallas plunges into her investigation"--

Translated into 40 languages, winner of the Norwegian Bookseller's Prize, and the most successful Norwegian author of her generation, Maja Lunde returns with a heart-wrenching tale, set in the distant past and the dystopian future, about extinction and survival, family and hope.

Mikhail lives in Russia in 1881. When a skeleton of a rare wild horse is brought to him, the zoologist plans an expedition to Mongolia to find the fabled Przewalski horse, a journey that tests not only his physicality, but his heart.In 1992, Karin, alongside her troubled son Mathias and several Przewalski horses, travels to Mongolia to re-introduce the magnificent horses to their native land. The veterinarian has dedicated her life to saving the breed from extinction, prioritizing the wild horses, even over her own son.

Europe's future is uncertain in 2064, but Eva is willing to sacrifice nearly everything to hold onto her family's farm. Her teenage daughter implores Eva to leave the farm and Norway, but a pregnant wild mare Eva is tending is about to foal. Then, a young woman named Louise unexpectedly arrives on the farm, with mysterious intentions that will either bring them all together, or devastate them one by one.

Spanning continents and centuries, The Last Wild Horses is a powerful tale of survival and connection--of humans, animals, and the indestructible bonds that unite us all.

Translated from the Norwegian by Diane Oatley

He's never had a problem keeping things professional with his employees...until she waltzed onto his property.

Vaughn Harding heads from the city to small-town Ruby Creek, intent on revitalizing his family's ranch and the scandal attached to its name in the wake of his grandfather's unexpected passing. He needs a win, and when he hires Billie Black to train his best but most stubborn racehorse, he hopes she can deliver.

Billie is talented. Whip-smart. Sassy. And so damn tempting. She and Vaughn clash from the moment they meet, but he can't stop thinking about her. And in a small town, on an even smaller farm, it's hard to keep their distance. Even harder to keep their friction from turning into fire.

With every smart-mouthed comment, every game they play, Vaughn ends up wanting more. Her lips. Her trust. Her heart. Billie Black is the whole package, and possibly the only one who can save Vaughn's business--and him.

Vaughn wants it all. But at what cost?

Because for the first time, he doesn't just want to win races...he wants to win the girl.

*The limited deluxe edition comes with printed edges*

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn comes a brand new holiday rom-com with all the humor and heat her fans adore.

Nothing says I love you like trespassing, public humiliation, and a town-wide Christmas spectacle to win your crush back.

Atlas "Max" Maxheimer did not sign up for this. One minute, he's anxiously trying to keep his family's Christmas tree farm from imploding. The next? He's passed out in the snow after getting clocked by a suspiciously strong bottle of soda.

Enter Betty: new in town, full of holiday cheer, and helping her uncle open a rival tree farm next door. Max is convinced she's out to destroy everything Evergreen Farm stands for. Betty thinks Max might be one sleigh short of a winter parade.

Cue the holiday chaos.

Between blizzards, blown reputations, wildly misguided romantic plots, and one stolen ornament with a seriously tragic backstory, this small-town war turns into something far messier--and much more delicious--than either of them expected.

Tropes:

• Holiday hijinks
• Small-town laughs
• Rivals to lovers

Foreword by Martha Stewart

The most fun Italian-American cookbook you'll ever splatter red sauce on, with over 70 recipes from chef, restauranteur, Food Network star, and Bronx-born Italian-American Christian Petroni.

Christian Petroni grew up in kitchens. Born in the Bronx, where his uncle owned an Italian restaurant, he was surrounded by Italian-American NYC culture. But he also spent his summers in Ponza, a small Italian island off the coast of Naples, surrounded by old-world culinary Italian traditions. He's been working in kitchens since he was thirteen and has made a name for himself working in some of the best restaurants in the NYC area, including his own, Fortina.

All his knowledge, experience, and homegrown Italian heritage are wrapped up in his debut cookbook, Parm to Table. The combination here is simply delicious: no pretension, no hang-ups, just good food made to taste like your nonna made it.

The book is broken up into chapters based on what you're looking for:

• Italian-American Classics, like 8-Hour Marinara Sauce and Neapolitan Eggplant Parmigiana
• Family-Style Meals, like Lasagna "Calabrese Influence," Fried Meatballs, and Fresh Mozzarella Sticks
• Weeknight Go-To's, like My Babe's Sausage & Peppers and Potato Frittata
• Ponza inspired dishes, like Spaghetti Vongole and Zia Gisella's Braised Calamari Pasta
• Plus Soups and Braises, Heros (sandwiches), Condimenti & Basic Sauces, and Dolci (Sweets)

With lush food photography and lifestyle imagery throughout, the book is as visually stunning as the food is delicious. Parm to Table is the go-to cookbook for anyone who loves comforting, home-cooked food, from Italy to the Bronx.

Just past the edge of summer, Alice and her daughter, Fern, arrive at the Pine Lake Apartments--a former sanatorium occupied by an ensemble of peculiar neighbors and a smattering of ghosts. Among the living: the Mermaid Lady, who performs in a nightclub fish tank; the building's handyperson, moonlighting as a medium; and an awkwardly charming professor of medieval studies. Fern alone is acquainted with the undead, who pass like troubled clouds through the apartments, humanity mostly lost ages ago. For the determinedly private Alice, Pine Lake seems the perfect place at the edge of the world to hide herself and her daughter--until the day Fern finds a dead body in the dumpster.



Intent on solving the mystery of this discarded corpse, Fern eagerly puts her encyclopedic knowledge of detective novels to good use while dodging warnings from her increasingly paranoid mother. She soon comes to realize that within the strange tapestry of Pine Lake residents, nothing is ever quite as it seems. Her investigation digs up long-buried secrets, including her mother's, that implicate each of her neighbors . . . and conjures a new one from beyond the grave.



The hotly anticipated debut novel from "master of the fantastic" (Roxane Gay) Amber Sparks, Happy People Don't Live Here is an unforgettable portrait of family--whether by birth or by chance or by choice--and the sometimes dangerous myths we make to keep ours together.



 

A compassionate guide that tackles one of the fastest-growing issues facing families everywhere: the increasing number of children who are refusing or reluctant to attend school.



When a child stops going to school, the entire family feels the impact. School avoidance may look like defiance, but it's often rooted in anxiety, depression, or other emotional challenges--and influenced by factors within the school environment that can make attendance feel overwhelming. Yet many families and educators are left unsure how to respond.

In this groundbreaking guide, Jayne Demsky--founder of the School Avoidance Alliance--provides a practical roadmap for parents navigating this isolating and often overwhelming experience. Demsky offers strategies that help parents to confidently collaborate with schools, navigate truancy laws, and provide the emotional support kids need to return to a productive and fulfilling school life.

Drawing on over a decade of experience supporting families, Demsky brings deep insight and unwavering commitment to this issue. Her perspective is further enriched by a diverse group of experts, professionals, and advocates who contributed their knowledge and expertise to this book, including these leading authorities: Dr. Christopher Kearney, Director, UNLV Child School Refusal & Anxiety Disorders Clinic; Dr. Daniel Villiers, counseling psychologist; cofounder, the Mountain Valley Treatment Center and the Anxiety Institute; and Dr. Mona Potter, child psychologist and psychiatrist; cofounder and CMO, InStride Health, and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Celebrate Christmas with one magical dance with Santa in this adorable picture book from a New York Times bestselling author, the inimitable Sandra Boynton.



"Now everybody's rushing toward Christmas Eve, but I'm quietly waiting. I've got to believe.

It's not about presents. No, here's the cause: I just want to dance with SANTA CLAUS!"



The only thing this sweet bunny child wants for Christmas is to dance the Rock-and-Roll Swing with Santa on Christmas Eve. Will it happen? (Spoiler: Of course!) Sandra Boynton's jaunty lyrics and captivating, expressive illustrations come together in this cozy gift book for the festive season. Based on the magical song (gloriously sung by Zooey Deschanel) on Boynton's Christmas album, Cows and Holly, this lovely picture book is the perfect read-aloud to celebrate Christmas with any little bunny in your life, year after year.

Best friends Ember the Fire Dragon and Gus the Mushroom Dragon search for a magic jewel in the first installment of this full-color, fantasy adventure series perfect for beginning readers!

Pick a book. Grow a Reader!

This series is part of Scholastic's early reader line, Acorn, aimed at children who are learning to read. With easy-to-read text, a short-story format, plenty of humor, and full-color artwork on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and fluency. Acorn books plant a love of reading and help readers grow!

Dragon Hill is in trouble! The magic jewel that protects Dragon Hill has gone missing, and best friends Ember the Fire Dragon and Gus the Mushroom Dragon work together to find the jewel. But they are young dragons and Ember doesn't yet know how to use her fire powers. The two friends follow squirrel paw prints and meet a helpful Tree Dragon. Will they be able to find the magic jewel?

Gus and Ember's adventure is told through five full-color short stories with easy-to-read text throughout! This series is set in the same fantasy world as Tracey West's New York Times bestselling Dragon Masters series, making Dragon Hill a perfect choice for budding readers who aren't quite ready to read the Branches series yet!

Fans of the hit TV show Yellowstone and its two prequel series will fall in love with this epic love story from #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller.

Lizbet Fontaine will do anything to keep her family together, even leave behind the only life she's ever known to journey to the West. But as the jitney rumbles away, holding tightly to her little brother's and sister's hands, she knows something is wrong. Her stepfather has summoned an associate with a predatory glint in his eyes, and Lizbet knows she needs to save them all. She just doesn't know how...until a kind man points out the Silver Hills Boarding House.

Gabe Whitfield is no saint. But he won't let a woman be threatened. Getting involved with Lizbet and little Frankie and Jubal is the last thing on his mind, though. When his wife and their child died a few years ago, a piece of him died, too. So he'll help this family find their way at Miss Ornetta's boarding house. Anything more is out of the question.

But that one chance meeting changes Gabe forever. Lizbet's fierce strength makes him feel the faintest whisper of hope. And Lizbet can't deny being drawn to the honest, gentle man whose kindness moves her. Can she trust her heart to a man who can't let go of the past?

 

A $100 million painting. 

A previously unknown Picasso is discovered in the attic of a French villa.

Everyone wants to possess it. 

Filthy-rich Manhattan art people. Organized crime bosses. Power-hungry government officials. A notorious forger. A glamorous twenty-two-year-old art thief.

Only one person knows how to take it. 

She's the rival none of the power players see coming.

A former slave fighting for justice. A reclusive warrior who no longer believes it exists. And a dark magic that will entangle their fates....fans of romantic fantasy will devour this tale from #1 New York Times bestselling author Carissa Broadbent.

Ripped from a forgotten homeland as a child, Tisaanah learned how to survive with nothing but a sharp wit and a touch of magic. But the night she tries to buy her freedom, she barely escapes with her life. 

Desperate to save the best friend she left behind, Tisaanah journeys to the Orders, the most powerful organizations of magic Wielders in the world. To join their ranks, she must complete an apprenticeship with Maxantarius Farlione, a handsome and reclusive fire wielder who despises the Orders. The Orders’ intentions are cryptic, and Tisaanah must prove herself under the threat of looming war. But even more dangerous are her growing feelings for Maxantarius. The bloody past he wants to forget may be the key to her future... or the downfall of them both.

Tisaanah will stop at nothing to save those she abandoned. Even if it means gambling in the Orders’ deadly games. Even if it means sacrificing her heart. Even if it means wielding death itself.

This is the first book in the new War of Lost Hearts series.

In this newest installment of Alexander McCall Smith’s beloved No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, Mma Ramotswe takes on a number of perplexing situations, and while she tries to maintain her usual impartiality, it’s difficult when one of the cases involves someone so close to her heart.

“Delightful . . . The warm humanity infused throughout [these] novels is what brings readers back . . . [McCall Smith] brings out the profound importance of everyday revelations.” —San Francisco Chronicle

Mma Ramotswe can sense the rain long before it comes. It’s been a long, dry summer, but the first downpour of the season tends to bring with it new growth. In this case, it also brings a new client, who suspects his wife of having an affair. Mma Ramotswe is on the case, and she decides to bring Charlie along. But as they look further into the matter, they begin to suspect their client may not have been entirely truthful in explaining his predicament.

Meanwhile, Mr. J.L.B.’s Matekoni has struck up a new friendship with a man named Mr. Mogorosi, a prominent figure in the motor trade business. Mma Ramotswe is concerned that Mr. Mogorosi may have ulterior motives for his attentions. When the two go on a fishing trip in waters teeming with dangerous crocodiles, she begins to worry for Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni’s safety.

And though Mma Ramotswe has never quite perfected Mma Potokwane’s delicious fruit cake recipe, she can always rely on her old friend for a steaming cup of red bush tea, some wise counsel, and a generous slice of cake. As welcome storms roll in to the little city of Gaborone, the pumpkins in Mma Potokwane’s garden flourish, as do her keen insights. These will prove invaluable to Mma Ramotswe as she navigates these sensitive matters with her usual good humor and compassion.